Impulse-starter coupling



A. ERICKSON.

IMPULSE STARTER COUPUNG.

APPLICATION FILED APR. mums.

1,41 1 ,080. Pa ented Mar- 28, 1922 IN [/5 N TOR FYLBER'T ERIE/(SUN ATTORNEY A.ERICKSON.

IMPULSE STARTER COUPLING.

APPLECATION mznnn. 10. I918.

1,41 1 ,080, Patented Mar. 28, 1922,.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR HLBEET ER/CKEUN ATTORNEY ALBERT ERICKSON. OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, or NEWARK, new JERSEY.

IMPULSE-STARTER COUPLING.

Application filed April 10, 1918. Serial No. 227,798.

To all wiimnit me" concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EnIoKsoN, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Impidse-Starter,

Couplings,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a coupling device to be used particularly with internal combustion engines, which when being started have a relatively low rotative speed at a time when the engine is going over compression, which is in general the proper-time for firing the gases in the engine cylinder and under this condition the spark produced-by the magneto is rather weak and with the poor mixture usually obtained, at this time, starting is very difficult. As soon as the engine is started the magneto renders ideal ignition. In order to overcome the objection above stated it has become the practice to accelerate the rate of speed of the rotating part of the magneto regardless of the slow speed of the engine crank shaft, thereby obtaming a spark substantially equivalent to Y the spark produced by the magneto at the normal operating speed of the engine. In general this driving mechanism for the magneto includes a coupling having a dr.iv-:

' ing member connected to an operating shaft o't the engine and a driven member securely "fastened to the shaft of the rotating element of the magneto with an impulse spring associated between the driving and driven members and brought into operation, either at the will of the operator orautomatically, whereby the driven member is held from ro tating until the driving member has advanced a predetermined number oi degrees, when the driven member is released and the impulse spring causes the driven member and the rotating part of the magneto to rota'te rapidly forwardthus producing a very eflicient spark in the engine cylinder.

It is the object of my invention to pro vide a device having the generalcharacteristics above described but with certain refinements and improvements therein all of which will be later pointed out.

Where the drive efi'ort oi the-driving member is'applied to the driven member through the impulse spring asis sometimes done, there is a tendency for the driven member to lag behind the driving member Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 7 engine has been started in order to prevent this lag. I

Other and further objects will be apparent after a study of the specification and drawings which form a part thereof, in which Figure 1 illustrates a magneto of a well known type having my impulse-starter coupling attached to its operating shaft.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the driving member of the coupling.

Figure 3 is a view of the driven member with the parts in substantially'the same relative position as in Figure 1, but with the driving member of Figure 2 removed.

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but with the impulse and bufier'springs with their supporting plate removed and the coupling member in neutral position.

Figure 5 is a view of the plate supporting the impulse and buffer springs.

Figure 6 is a view of one of the latch coupling lock arms. I 7

Figure '7 is a side elevation of Figure 4 looking from the :lower side showing the hub of the driven member-indotted position. Figure 8 is a view of the member used for closing the opening used. for assembling the latch coupling into the driven member.

Figure 9 is tor.

Figure 1.0 is a longitudinal sectional view through the starter coupling 'shownin Figure 1. i

Referring now to the details, in which like numbers refer to corresponding parts in the various views, 1 is a magneto having my improved coupling mounted on itsrotating member. The coupling is made up in general of a driven member 2 and a driving member 3. .The drivenmember-2 has a hub 4 which is centrally located with reference to the'side walls of the member. The hub 4 has a hole preferably tapering to fit the magneto shaft anda keyway 6 to receive a key carried by the magneto shaft. The driven member 2 carries a latch coupling 7 which is clearly shown in Figure 4. The latch 7 is shown provided with two projecting ends 8 and 9 whichv are adapted to extend through erforations 10 in the side walls of the driven member. It is to be understood that the a View of the dust cap protecjections to suit the conditions. It will be apparent by an inspection ofFigure4that it is impossible to 'assemblethe latch 7 on .to'the driven member 2 if only the oblong member 12, shown in Figure 8, that is adapted to snap into the opening 11 thereby closing it up. The curved portions 13 01 the member 12 are adaptedto engage the side.

wall of 'the driven member. 2'. The latch 7 carries on it arms 14 and 15 which are adapted' to be centrifugally operated being piv oted to the latch at 16 and 17. As shown, the arms 14 and 15 are adapted to swing outwardly beneath the latch 7 which has its central portion cutaway leaving the outer" part encompassing the hub 4. The arms 14 and 15, which I term locking arms, have locking fingers 18 and 19 which are adapted to engage the notches 20 and 21 cut n the outer extremity oi the sleeve which is a part of the driving member 3 and which is adapted tofi't over the hub 4, extending to and resting, a ainst the bottom oi'- the driven member 2. he locking arms 14 and 15 have projections 23 and 24 which serve as fulcrums for the locking arms, the opposite ends of which are enlarged as much as possible to supply weight at this end. driven member 2 is preferably countcrbored to a certain depth .providii'ig an. annular shoulder 25 which serves to support the plate 26 which has a lug 27 adapted to project into or throughthe side walls of the driven member 2 wherebyitis prevented from rotating by pressure applied to the pin 28 curely fastened thereto. A similar pin 29 is carried on the drivingmember 3 which also has cams 30 and 31 formed toward the extremity of the sleeve 22, Cams 30 and 31 are adapted to engage cams 32 and 33 on the latch 7 for a purpose which will be later described.

As shown in Figure 3 the plate 26 is in position andwsupported thereon is an impulse spring 34 which abuts againstthe pin 28' on one side thereof and against the pin 29 when the driving member 3 is in position. As shown in Figure 3 the pin 29 is shown dotted, indicating the position which it would occupy if the driving member 3 where in position. Interposed between the pins 28 and 29 is a second spring 35 which I designate as a butter spring. 1

Coming now to the operationof my de vice, I provide on the magneto 1 a catch plate 36 having a notch 37 therein which notch is adapted to engage the projections 8 and; 9 as the engine .7 and magneto rotating of the engine.

The

the notch 37 as the coupling rotates.

.01 theslots 38, is connected by. an'Oldhain coupling member to a suitable driving shait When either of'the projections 8 or 9 engages'the notch 37 the driven member '2 is prevented from rotating and since at this time the locking arms .14 and 15; are imposition shown in Figure 3, the locking fingers 18. and 19 are out of engagement with the notches 20 and 21 of. the driving member 3, consequently the driving member 3 will move forward in the direction of the arrow therebycompressing the impulse spring 34 until one of the cams 30 or 31 engage one of the cams 3201 on the latch 7, depending on which one is in position to operate. As one pair of the above cams'come into engagement, the latch 7 is lifted out of the notch 37 and the driven member 2 will be released and driven rapidly forward, due to the stress put on the impulse spring" 34,- thereby moving therotating element of themagneto rapidly and producing a'hot spark. When the driven member has reached its full for-- ward position, by the impulse of the spring 34, the shock produced by .it suddenly catching up with the driving member absorbed by the buffer spring 35. Assuming that theengine starts on the first explosion of gas and rapidly comes up to speed, the arms 14 and 15 being acted on by centrifugal force and working on the projections 23 .and24 as fulcrums'against the inner wall ofthe driven member- 2, it

will be seen that the'lateh 7 will be centralized and held in the neutral position whereby the projections 8 and 9 will clegr the same time the locking fingers'1'8' and 19 will engage the notches 20 and 21 thereby locking the members 2 and" 3 together so that the driving power of the driving member is not-transmitted to the driven member 2 through-the im ulse spring 34 and hence all lag is 'avoide, between the driving and driven'members at the normal running position of the engine. Should, for any reason, the engine be slowed down to apoint where the ignition generator would .not be eflicient then it willbe seen that the centrifugally operated arms 14 and 15 will move toward the hub 4 and unlock the drivingand driven members 2'and 3 allowing the reciprocating latch 7 to come into operation thereby giving a hot spark.

In order to render the coupling as dust proof as possibleI provide a dust cap39 which is adapted to fit over the'fl'ange 40 of the driving member 3 which .in turn is adapted to come flush with the rim 41 of the driven member 2 when'the driving and drivenmembers 2 and 3'are in assembled position.

In my application Serial No. 182,729 filed July 23, 1917, I have shown and described a coupling device of which the present application is an improvement, and it will be understood that numerous changes and alterations may be made in the details of the various parts of mycoupling device without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims. r I

Having thus described my invention what I claim isr- 7 V 1. An impulse starter coupling for an electrical current generator, comprising a driven member adapted to be secured to the rotating part of the generator, a driving member rotatably mounted on the driven member, a reciprocating'latch plate permanently engaging with 'the driven member, andhaving one ormore ,parts adapted to project beyond its periphery thereof when'the latch plate is reciprocated to the end of its motion inthat direction,

' means for engaging the said projecting part,

an impulse spring, a support plate for said spring, means supported wholly by said support plate and cooperating means on the driving member for setting the spring at tension by rotating the driving member in advance of the driven 'member,and cooperating means on the latch plate and on the driving member for moving the latch plate to withdraw the said projection from its engaging means to release the driven mentber, after the spring is set at tension.

2. An impulse starter coupling for an electrical current generator, comprising a driven member adapted to be secured to the rotating-part of the generator, a driving member having cams rotatably mounted on the driven member, a latch plate carried by the driven member and having centrifugally controlled; member attached thereto, said latch plate being adapted to be re'ciprocated alternately by gravityand by said cams assisted by the centrifugally controlled members, said latch plate having'one or more parts adapted to project beyond the periphery of the driven member when the latch plate'is moved by gravity, means for engaging the said projecting part, a spring connecting the driven and driving member and adapted to be' set at tension by rotating the driving member in advance of the driven member, and means on the latch plateadapted to co-operate with the cams on the drivin member to raise the latch plate I to withdraw the projecting part from its engaging means whereby said driven member is moved rapidly forward by the tension ofsaid spring and means carriedby said centrifugally icontrolled members on the latch plate for taking the driving force of the driving"member after a predetelfmined speed :has been reachedQ 3. The combination with a: driveninember secured to the rotating part of an electrical current generator, a rotatable driving member carrying a pin thereon, a spring support-plate having a pin integral therewith, said plate being carried by the driven member in such a manner as to prevent relative rotation between th'e two, and a spring carried on said support plate having one end abutting against said pin and its otherend abutting'against said pin on the driving member sovas tobe tensioned by rotating the driving member III-adVflIlCQ of the driven generator is driven at or above its normal 9O speed, as and'for the purpose described.

' {L An impulse starter coupling for an electrical current generator, comprising a centrifugal casing having a "hub adapted to besecure'd -to'the rotating part of the generator,a coupling member adapted to fit withinsaid casing and having apart fitting over saidhub'and rotatable relatively there- 7 v to, a radial os'cillating latch plate" mounted in the casing-and revolving therewith and having locking arms adapted to engage pos itively with the coupling-memberwhen said arms'areat' their substantial limit of the motion caused by centrifugal force, a catch adapted to engage the" latch plateraud hold it and the casing against rotation when the casing and latch. plate 1 are turnedvery slowly 'i a spring yieldingly connecting the casing and couphngmemben'a cam on the latch plate and a-fcooperatingcam onthe coupling member adapted to move the'coupling member todisengage it from said catch 'an'd-thereby assisting the locking arms to move the latch plate" into neutral position whereby they engage said "coupling when 1 the spring is set at tension by"rotating the coupling casing. Y 51-An'impulsestamer coupling 'for an elecmember forward relative to the I tricalcurrent'generato'r, comprising a casing adapted to be secured to" the rotating part of the generator a coupling member positioned in rotatable relationjto the'casmg, a'i'a dial oscillating latch plate revolving with the casing and having locking arms adapted to engage'with the coupling member'when the arms are at the limit of their motion caused bycentrifugalforce, aica'jtch adapted toin- We i h hal t ?'a i-" 'i'e s from rotating; when the latch is at the lower limit of: its motion, cam memberson the couplingv member and on the. latch plate adaptedtomove the latch plate into a positionreleasing it and the casing-.frcm the catch, and a .spring'vresisting. rotary movement ofthe coupling member relative to the latch plate to the cam releasing position and then adapted to drive the casing. forward and a second spring. adapted to. receive, the blow ofthe forward movement of said casing. i

'6.-In M13 impulse starter coupling for an electrical current generator, comprising a casing adapted to be secured to, the rotatable partofthe generator; a coupling member rotatable relative to the casing, a radial oscillating latch. plate having two parts adapted to project through the casing, said; casing being cut away below. one of saidprojecting parts whereby said latch plate may be. assembled within the casing and means for closingsaid cut-away portion after the latch plate isassembled within the, casing, centrifugally operable members pivoted to saidlatc'h plate .for holding the samein neutral position, said members at the same time: engaging. the coupling member totake the drive between the couplingmember and the casing; a'catch adapt- 1 ed to intercept and hold the latch plate p and 'vlthe casing and preventing it from rotating when the catch plateis at the lower limit of 'its..-motion, cooperatingmeans on the coupling member andalatch plate for moving the latch. plate into a position to release, it and thecasing; fromsaid catch and afspringf tensioned by the coupling member duringthe intervalthat the casingis held from rotation for causing the casing to advance rapidly forward when released and a, second spring adapted to absorb the shock of-theforward movement of'said casingyas and fortheqpurpose described.

7. A starter coupling for igniter magnetos comprising coaxial, relatively rotatable driving-and driven members, a lock for connecting said members to positively hold the same against relative rotation and-made operative at a predetermined speed of the coupling member; said lock consisting of, a reciproeating latch; plate supported by the driven member and carrying centrifugally controlled members'having locking-fingers, and notches in. apart of the driving member adapted to be engaged by said, locking finger's; an actuatingspring interposed between said members,'a catcharranged to successivelyi arrest said driven member tothereby place said spring under tension and means I memberfrom said catch.

8. starter coupling for igniter magnetos comprising coaxial, relatively rotatable driving and driven members, a lock for connecting said members to positively hold the same against relative rotation and made operative at a predetermined speed of thecoupling member; saidlockconsisting of, areciprocat-ing latch, plate supported by the driven member and carrying centrifugally con trolled members having locking fingers, and notches in a part of the driving member adapted to be engaged 'by-said locking fingers; an actuating pring interposed between said members, said latch plate having one or more parts projecting through the Wall of the driven member, a catch arranged tosuccessively engage the projecting part or parts of said latch plate to arrest said driven memher to. thereby place said spring under tension and means consisting of co-operating cams on the latch plate and driving member for automatically releasing the latch and driven member from said catch.

9 111 an impulse starter -1coupling for igniter magnetos, the combination of, a driven member; having a centrally located hub adapted to be fastened to the magneto shaft, a reciprocating latch carried by. the

member and having a lug projecting therethrough; and a driving member havlng a centrally located. sleeve fitting over the hub on the driven member and abutting against the bottom of the driven member, one ormore cams on said sleeve adapted to engage the cam or cams on said latch during the starting interval, a pin on the driving memher; a buffer spring supported on said plate between said two pins and an impulse spring carried on said plate and abutting against the opposite sides of said pins from the buffer spring and a catch for engaging that part of the latch which protrudes through vthe wall of the driven member when the same is at rest or turning slowly, whereby the driven member is held for a predetermined interval and the impulse spring put under stress which drives the driven member rapidl forward when it is released by the cam or cams on the driving member acting on the cam or cams on said latch. r

10. In .an impulse starter coupling for igniter ,magnetos the combination of, a driven member; having a centrally located hub adapted to be fastened to the magneto shaft, areciprocating latch carried by the driven member and-encompassing saidrhub, centrifugally controlled members pivotedto said latch for holding and moving thesame as described, a plate supported by the side wall of the driven member and having a 7 lug projecting through the ide wall thereof and carrying a stop pin and a driving member having centrally located sleeve adapted to fit over said hub on the driven member,

' cams on said sleeve for engaging said latch,

a pin carried on the body part of the driving member and an impulse spring supported by said plate interposed between said two pins and means for engaging the ends of saidthe latch and whereby the impulse spring is compressed to suddenly drive the driven V member forward when it is released.

In witness whereof I aflixmy signature.

ALBERT ERIOKSON. 

